Operating system for discharge devices and vapor arc lamps



Nov. 13, 1951 B|RD 2,575,001

L.'F. OPERATING SYSTEM FOR DISCHARGE DEVICES AND VAPOR ARC LAMPS Filed Feb. 7, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY Y M w A TTOP/VEY OPERATING ss'zs'rhm FOR DISCHARGE Nov. 13, 1951 F B|RD 2,575,001

DEVICES AND VAPOR ARC LAMPS Filed Feb. 7, 1948 Z'Sl'iEETS-SHEET 2 yam W 4 TTOANEY Patented Nov. 13, 1951 OPERATING SYSTEM FOR DISCHARGE DE- VICES VAPOR ARC LAMPS Lester F.Bird, Newark, N. J assignor to Hanovia Chemical and Manufacturing Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 7, 1948, Serial No. 6,908

4 Claims.

voltages to momentarily boost the potential across the discharge device or lamp, etc. Such provisions involve a transformer having a kva. rating large enough to operate a discharge device or arc lamp which necessitates elevated secondary voltages for the initial ignition. Since the secondary transformer voltage is directly proportional to thetransformer kva.rating,it is obvious that the kva; rating of the transformer must be determined by the peak ignition potential. Providing a transformer with a kva. rating determined by the peak ignition potential for a discharge device or are lamp adds to the'cost of manufacturing such transformer and also to the cost of operating lamps, etc., by such transformer. Moreover, such transformer is substantially large and bulky. The present invention avoids the provision of a transformer having the abovementioned disadvantages of conventional transformers. For example, it eliminates greatly elevated secondary transformer voltages and assures lighting, i. e. lighting of a vapor arc lamp, even though the ignition potential necessary to light the arc lamp may be substantially greater than that instantaneous potential of the secondary transformer voltage.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple operation and ignition circuit for discharge devices and vapor arc lamps. It is'another object of this invention to provide an economical operation and ignition circuit for are lamps and discharge devices. It'is a further object of this invention to provide, in combination with other embodiments of the invention, a transformer of minimum size adapted to operate a discharge device or vapor arc lamp Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the operating and igniting circuit according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a modification of the operating and ignition circuit according to the invention,

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a circuit according to this invention including a thermionic type rectifier,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a circuit according to this invention including a thermionic type rectifier with independent rectifier supply voltage, and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a circuit according to this invention including a thermionic type rectifier with an independent supply transformer.

In order to avoid the provision of a transformer having greatly elevated secondary voltage for starting the initial discharge of vapor arc lamps and discharge devices, I add a rectifying system to the lamp or discharge device circuit. The rectifying system is primarily adapted for building up a direct current potential across a series capacitor, said direct currentpotential being capable of approaching the peak value of the maximum instantaneous potential of the secondary alternating current transformer voltage. Due to the nature of this direct current potential, it becomes additive with the transformer secondary voltage when the instantaneous alternating current voltage of the transformer and said direct current potential are in the same direction. This characteristic provides almost twice the value of the peak instantaneous potential of the secondary voltage alone. Therefore, ignition of a vapor arc lamp or discharge device is assured with this greatly amplified starting potential. After a discharge is initiated, the rectifying system has no further efiect upon the normal operating current of a discharge device or vapor arc lamp.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the operating and ignition circuit of the invention having incorporated therein an electrical transformer I having a primary coil 2 and a secondary coil 3 in inductively coupled relationship. A series capacitor 4 is located in the circuit between one terminal of the transformer secondary and the .discharge device so that all of the current to the discharge device or are lamp 5 and the rectifier circuit passes therethrough, said rectifier current producing the direct current potential built up by the rectifying system illustrated as a rectifier unit 6 and a current limiting resistance 1. The transformer i may, for example, have a primary winding 2 designed to receive an operating current from a source of cycle alternating current at volts. The secondary transformer coil 3 may have an unloaded voltage of 285 volts. Although the figure is purely diagrammatic, the transformer unit characteristically has primary and secondary windings located on a magnetic core i. e. an arc lamp 5, may be designed to operatenormally at 120 volts andaboutZb-amperes. A

rectifier 6 may be composed of two units oi minia ture selenium rectifier stacks havingan inverse voltage rating of about 380 volts per unit and a rectified current rating of 100 milliamperes. The current resistor l is in series with the rectifier and may have a valueof about 1000 ohms and may-be employed to limitthe rectified current to thlcapacitoras needed. Upon the application ofpower t'o theprimary of .the transformer, the open..circuit voltage, i. e. 285 volts, is applied acr. sthe, discharge. deviceor. lamp and. across the'rectiid.circuit; If the lamp lightsimmediat'ly nothing 'further happens, but if thelamp fails to. start.. the rectifier. immediately starts to chargethe capacitor with a direct currehtpoten- Theidire ct' current, potential. each alternate half cycle -is additive with thepeak of the alter- .natingcurrent voltage and so eventually .the coinbina'tionjcan, provide a potential at almost .twice the peak .of the alternating current potential alone forigniti'ngjthedischarge Figure 2' shows a modification of the circuit described under Figure .1, said modificationillustrating'gaic'irc'uit .in' which. a series reactor. is .con-

nected between. the.capacitor lamprrectifier circuitIand. the powersupply in placaof a trans-v forme This circuit-comprises a suitable source of powerfi, a stabilizing reactance 9 having amag- .netic core 101s capacitor. having approximatetwicethe reactance. -at the ,line frequency of the seriesreactor 9, a. suitable rectifier unit. I2,

comprising a. current limiting resistance l 3 I and a. discharge device or arc lamp I 4.

Upon the, application of power. to. the circuit, either the lamp is immediately ignited orthev rectifier startsto develop a direct. current potential across the series capacitor. As this potential increases,.- th'e "ignition'potential for the lamp is passed andthe lamp is ignited. The operatio n of thisc'ir cuit is identical with the operation of the circuit described under Figure 1 and it. is apparent in comparing both circuits :that the invention is qlilimi fli an Q I th 1 f a t ans orm in orderto attain the advantages thereof.

In accordance withthe broad scope of themvention, the heretofore described elements of the circuit are. not limited to the values given in relation thereto. For example, the rectifier unit may consist of any type of rectifier which isv suitable and which will withstand the inverse voltage built up by. the addition of a direct current to and in combination with the peak voltage of the alternatin'g, current voltage. Also, the invention is not limited to the manner in which the rectifier is-applied to the operating circuit as long as its performance results in a direct current potential being developed across the series capacitor. More particular1y,such other types of rectifiers nd t e np i a on, ma i cludeher cm types of rectifiers l5 in place of selenium plate or dry plate type rectifiers, thermionic rectifiers IS with independent rectifier supply voltages, or

thermionic rectifiers H with independent supply 5 transformers as shown for illustrative purposes in Figures 3, 4. and 5 respectively.

whileIzhave shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since other modifications are possible within the true. scope of the invention.

What-I claim is:

1. A vapor electric discharge device operating system-comprising a main circuit, a source of al- .-ternatingqcurrent.therefor, a vapor electric discharge lamp connected in said main circuit, a shunt circuit connected directly across said dischargelamp, a capacitor connected in the main circuit of said system in series with both of said circuits said shunt circuit comprising a, rectifier means for charging. said capacitor with a D. C. potentiaisaid. shunt circuit being operative only when said lamp remains non-conductive with a peak. A. C. po,tential, the normal A. C. potential of said sourcebeing sufiicient to continue lamp conduction: after ignition. H 2. A vaporelectricdischarge device operating system, comprising, amain circuit, a transformer, a source .of alternating .current therefor, said ,main circuit being connected across said transformer, avapor electric discharge lamp connected in-saidmain circuit, ashunt circuit connecteddirectly across said .discharge lamp. acapacitor connected-in. the .main circuit of said system in ,,series,,with both of said circuits. said. shunt .circuit comprising a :rectifier .Ior charging saidcapacitorwitha D. C. potential only .whenthe lamp ignition potential exceeds, the peak.A.. C. voltage, .thenormal A C;. potential of said, source being ,sufiicientto continue lampconduction after ignition.

3. Avaporelectric discharge device operating system coni'prisinga main-circuit, a source of alteifnating current, a vapor electric discharge lamp connected. in. said. main, circuit, a shunt, circuit connectfiddirectly across said. discharge lamp, 2. cfiPdflfiOtconnected in the .main circuit of said system in series with. both of said circuits, areactonconnectedin said ,maincircuit in series and ,betweenrsaid capacitor and the source of current,

1 said shunt. circuit. consisting .of a.rectifier and a resistance in series therewith, ,said rectifier being operable to charge said capacitor witha D. 0, pctentialpnly when the, lamp ignitionpotential exceeds the peak A. C. voltage, the normal A.,C. potentialpf saidsource .being sufiicient tocontinue I lamp conduction ,af ter ignition.

4., A, .yaponelectric discharge device operating system according to claim 3, ,whereinsaid rectifier. is a thermionic. rectifier, an independent ,A. C.

powe lnply connected tosaid rectifier.

' LESTER. F. I BIRD.

' EEEBENC SJ TE The iollovving I references are of record in the .file of; this patent:

UNITED..STATES PATENTS 'Name Date Osborne Dec. 24, ,1935 Dorgel9, Sept. 13,1938 Dorgelo' Oct.25, 19.38

Number I 025 4 1.. 

